Why is this lesson important enough for you to be teaching?

For September and October, we are doing a fun little series on Creating Your Own Children's Bible Study.

Whether you're just starting out in children's ministry and have recently been handed a section of the lesson and told to "make it your own."

Whether you're a seasoned teacher who has found yourself bored with your current curriculum.

Whether you're a mom or dad who is looking to take charge and be intentional with your child's spiritual health.

Wherever you're finding yourself in this season, this is such a handy series for all of us to pay attention to! Who knows? Maybe you'll inspire your children's leader with ideas. Maybe you'll find yourself in complete awe at laying the foundation for your children to come to Christ. Maybe you'll find your ministry revived and coming to life through your own curriculum!

Wherever you are in your journey, I hope that this series proves to be a valuable one!

Objective

I have to admit, when handed someone else's curriculum or lesson, I usually skip over the objective completely. I might glance at it, but I rarely let the information settle into my mind and direct my steps. I think it's easy for all of us to gloss over this incredible piece of information as we seek to dive into the lesson and figure out what we need to do. But it is just that, an incredible piece of information.

The objective tells us why the lesson is important enough to be teaching. I could sit down and write a lesson on some random fact, but what value is that to a child? What value is that to me as the teacher? How is that information going to carry our pupils through the good and hard parts of life?

As we sit down and consider the content of our curriculum and each individual lesson, we do need to consider the lesson's objective. Take a moment and write one sentence. What is the goal of this lesson? What is the purpose of this lesson? If the child remembers only one thing about this lesson, what should that one thing be?

The objective sets the stage for the rest of the lesson. Every question, every point of information, every game, the memory verse, the craft, everything needs to point to the objective.

Here are a few sample objectives:

To remember that when we are afraid, that God is there to help us be brave.

To remember that prayer helps us to talk to God.

To look to God for comfort when we are sad.

Do you see? Each of these objectives are simple. They can be spoken in one sentence and not ten. They're easy for you and I to remember as we head into these conversations with these kids.

Here's another thing to remember when it comes to writing objectives: keep it simple.

Many times we want to teach the children two or three thoughts. We want to break the lesson down into three main points. But children (and adults) do a lot better trying to remember one point rather than three. If you have a bunch of points, the children will be less likely to remember what is taught. If you have a bunch of points, you have to come up with a variety of ways to teach each point, which means that the main point is lost in the noise of all this activity and all these words. Keep it simple. Have everything you do teach that point. You'll be amazed at what they remember next time you sit down and dive into God's Word together.

So why are you teaching this lesson? What value will it have in the lives of your students? What important truth will they be able to latch onto when Life Happens?

Once you figure that out, you’re well on your way to creating and exciting and valuable lesson!